Campaign of the Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers

by J. Newton Terrill

Danville is a town of some importance, forty miles from Goldsboro, the scene of Johnson's surrender. Had he not surrendered as soon as he did, he would have heard the thunder of the artillery and musketry of the 6th corps in his rear in less than forty-eight hours; but the men were not anxious to move further south, and remained quietly in camp. At this place the rebels had a large house where the Union prisoners were kept. The graveyard where they were buried was visited by the men; the most of them had died of starvation and cruel treatment. About seven thousand were crowded in a small lot; it will ever remain a curse to the South, showing the cruel treatment our men received at their hands.

The troops remained in camp at Danville until the 16th of May, when orders came to move; leaving camp at four in the morning, marching through Danville, and placed on baggage cars, riding one hundred and sixty miles all day and all night, to Richmond. The day was warm and dusty, and the ride very tedious, as the men were in open cars; crossed Staunton River on a bridge built by our forces since the occupation of Danville, passing the old camp at Burksville, reaching Richmond on the morning of the 17th, and entering camp near Manchester, remained there eight days. The other corps were at Washington with Sherman's army, and were paid off and mustered out as rapidly as possible. The 6th corps, always first in action, was the last to go home; their work was now done, and all were anxious to return to their homes. Camp life passed very pleasantly, and passes were given the men to visit Richmond. Rebel officers and soldiers were numerous, and were loitering around with feelings of hatred towards the Union soldiers; they were whipped but not subdued, and to-day the same feeling exists in the South as it did four years ago.

The remainder of the troops were now at Washington, and Gen. Wright did all he could to get transportation for his corps; but the authorities at Washington were not willing, and the men ware compelled to march. When Washington was threatened by Early, the 6th corps was transported there in a hurry; but now the war was over, and with hundreds of transports lying at City Point, the men were not allowed to ride. The distance was one hundred and twenty miles, the sun warm and the roads muddy from recent rains. The 24th army corps of the army of the James was still at Richmond doing guard duty, with headquarters at the former residence of Jeff. Davis.

On Monday, March 24, the corps was ordered to move for Washington, marching out at three o'clock, passing in review at Manchester and at Richmond, crossing the James on pontoons. After marching through the principal streets, the troops took the road to Washington, marching that day twenty miles, the roads in some places almost impassable, several teams sticking in the mud; passed the works thrown up by McClellan in the Peninsula campaign, crossing the Chickahominy River and Stony Creek, and halting for the night at Hanover Court House. We moved out the next day on the same road the army was on one year ago; then after the enemy, trying to take Richmond, now with the war over, bound for home. The day was very warm, and the men fell out by hundreds; many were sunstruck, several dying. At night the column halted at Chesterfield Station, having marched twenty miles since morning.

On the 29th the rain fell in torrents, wetting the men to the skin; the roads were in a horrible condition, the mud knee-deep. The weather had suddenly changed and it was very cold; the men were as wet as they could be. At 9 o'clock the troops moved out; the marching was very slow as the men ware nearly worn out, having done nothing but march since last winter quarters. But ten miles were made that day, the men entering camp at dark. Shelter tents were hastily put up, but the damp ground was a hard place to lie for tired and weary man, but the men did not care, as the war was over and they were homeward bound. The corps was now stuck in the mud and could not move; this was the last march, and a hard one it was. The men lay in camp until the roads were nearly dried, which did not take long, as the sandy roads of Virginia did not long remain muddy with the hot sun to dry them; two days were spent in camp. Six days were given Gen. Wright to march from Richmond to Washington, but it could not be done. The rations were giving out, the men having nothing but hard-tack and coffee.

On Monday, the 29th, the roads were in better condition, and the troops moved out. The day was cool, marching in eight hours twenty miles to Fredericksburg, arriving there at noon, crossed the Mat Ta Po and Nye Rivers, these four streams forming the Mattapony River. Headquarters were near the city on the Heights where Generals Burnside and Hooker fought in '62 and '63. The next day the march was resumed, the 3d division in the rear, passed through Fredericksburg, a very pretty place, but now nearly every house bore the marks of shells; the place was in a very dilapidated condition. The column crossed the Rappahannock on pontoons, marching sixteen miles, wading Aquia Creek, camping in a field at four o'clock. On the 31st, the 3d division was in the centre, marching eighteen miles very fast, arriving in camp at three o'clock. Hard-tack, coffee and sugar were issued the men at night. On June 1st the headquarter wagons were sent ahead, marching eighteen miles, and encamping near Fairfax Court House. The next day fourteen miles were made, passing the Potomac army lying quietly in their camp, anxiously awaiting orders to be mustered out. Tents were pitched on a line at Bailey's Cross Roads, eight miles from Washington, having been ten days coming from Richmond, two days stuck in the mud.

The marching and fighting were now over, and the men entered camp with the expectation of soon seeing their homes. The remaining corps were soon mustered out as rapidly as possible, and the officers of the different regiments were working day and night on the muster rolls. The weather was very warm and dry, and rations poor. The nearer the troops were to Washington the poorer were the rations they had to eat. The detached men from the regiment were now ordered back, and the new recruits transferred to the 2d New Jersey with two hundred and thirty men; all that remained of the old 14th New Jersey were ready to return home.

On Thursday, June 8th, the 6th corps was reviewed in Washington in presence of President Johnson and other leading officials. At four o'clock in the morning the men moved out of camp, marching to Washington. At nine o'clock the column was formed; the men were neatly brushed, with muskets in fine order and wearing white gloves, crossing Long Bridge and passing in review down Pennsylvania avenue. The sun was intensely hot, and in the crowded streets the men suffered very much; many were sunstruck and died. The men were not used to pavements, nor to marching in close order. After the review the troops returned to their respective camps, having marched twenty miles since leaving camp; it was more than a day's march, and very hard on the men. Soon the muster rolls were ready, and were sent into headquarters for inspection; they were pronounced correct, and preparations were made to muster out the men as soon as possible. The rolls of the 14th were ready first, and they were the first to leave for their homes.

Seventeen days had elapsed since the corps arrived at Washington. On the afternoon of June 19th, the regiment was formed in line and marched to headquarters, and was mustered out of the United States service. Soldiering in the field was now done, and with happy hearts the men returned to their quarters. At midnight the long roll was beaten and the regiment ordered to move at daylight, marching to Washington, passing through Georgetown. The men were placed on baggage cars, but did not get off until night, arriving in Philadelphia on the morning of the 21st. A good breakfast was given the men by the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. Three cheers for the ladies of Philadelphia were given, and the regiment marched to the ferry, crossing over to Camden and taking the cars for Trenton, forty miles distant, arriving at noon. The ladies of the place gave the war-worn veterans a hearty welcome and a warm reception. A splendid dinner was provided, and the men enjoyed it much; such a dinner was indeed a feast, such as the men had not seen for many a long day, after which they were marched to the barracks and ordered in. At first they refused to go, but the promise of a speedy payment was satisfactory, and the men entered, remaining all night; the next day forming in line and marching through the principal streets; everywhere the regiment was greeted with cheers. Another dinner was served, and speeches made by Governor Parker, Lieut.-Colonel Hall, and others. The men then returned to the barracks, and passes were given them for five days. All were in good spirits, and were glad they were again in their native State.

The regiment had bean gone nearly three years, leaving New Jersey with nine hundred and fifty active men; two hundred and thirty returned. During that time, having participated in numerous battles and skirmishes, fighting each time with that bravery for which the New Jersey troops were noted for. In that time the regiment had traveled by rail one thousand and fifty miles, by water six hundred and twenty-eight miles, and on foot two thousand and fifteen miles. At the expiration of five days the men returned, and on the 20th of June, 1865, received their final payment by Major Newell, after passing through almost incredible hardships, participating in all the battles of the Potomac Army from Gettysburg to the surrender of Lee, leaving more than one half of their men on Southern soil, their bones now bleaching in the sun. The men were soon to separate and return to their homes. The clash of arms and the groans of the wounded and dying would no more be heard, and those that were left would soon engage in the active pursuits of life, and war forgotten. The 14th New Jersey, a noble regiment, will ever be remembered by the people of the State as the defenders of our Union and Constitution.